a tempo
return to the original tempo
accelerando
gradually faster
adagio
slowly
accent
play with emphasis
alla breve
indicates a tempo with the half note getting the beat
allargando
becoming slower and often louder, usually at the climax
allegretto
a little slower than allegro
allegro
a fast tempo
andante
walking tempo
andantino
a little faster than andante, but originally slower
appoggiatura
a non-harmonic tone that often played on the beat, resolving stepwise and usually written as a small note
atonality
refers to music which has no tonal center
augmentation
a form of repetition in which the note valuse are doubled
binary form
two-part form (AB). Usually both parts are repeated (AABB)
bitonality
refers to music having two simultaneous tonal centers
cadence
a combination of chords used at the end of a phrase, section, or composition
canon
polyphony in which one part overlaps another playing the same melody
cantible
in a singing manner
chordal texture
a type of homophonic texture with predominant chords rather than a melody and accompaniment
coda
a closing section
common time
four quarter note beats per measure
con
with
con brio
with brilliance
con fuoco
with fire
con moto
with motion
con spirito
with spirit
contrasting phrases
two phrases which begin differently
counterpoint
refers to two or more melodies sounding at the same time
contrapuntal texture
refers to music with 2 or more independent voices (melodies)
countersubject
the melody appearing against the subject
cut time
two half note beats per measure (alla breve)
decrescendo
gradually growing softer
development
the second section of a sonata-allegro form: themes or motives may be changed and elaborated, new themes may be added
dolce
gentle, sweet
doloroso
sadly,sorrowfully
enharmonic
refers to two notes sounding the same but written differently, for example A# and Bb
episode
section of a fugue in which the subject is not present or does not appear in its entirety
espressivo
play with feeling (expressively)
exposition
first section of a sonata allegro form: the first theme in the tonic key, second theme in the dominant or related key, optional closing theme
fine
the end
forte
loud, strong
forte piano
loud, then soft
fortissimo
very loud
fortississimo
very very loud
giocoso
humorous, playful
gracioso
gracefully, elegantly
grand staff
the bass and treble staves combined
hemiola
a rythmic device superimposing two beats in the time of three or three beats in the time of two
imitation
the immediate restatement of a melody or motive in another voice
invention
name given by j. s. bach to 15 keyboard compositions in 2 parts
largo
very slow
legato
smooth and connected
leggirio
lightly
lento
slow
loco
play as written. A reminder that the 8va has ended.
ma non troppo
but not too much
m.d (mano destra)
right hand
m.s. (mano sinistra)
left hand
maestoso
majestic
marcato
accented, stressed
measure
a unit occuring between two bar lines
meno
less
mezzo forte
medium loud
mezzo piano
medium soft
minuet
a dance in triple meter
moderato
medium or moderate empo
molto
much, very
morendo
softly fading away, dying
motive
a short melodic or rhythmic pattern that recurs
opus
work. numbering system of a composers works, usually chronological
ostinato
a patterns that is continuously repeated,often in the bass
parallel keys
major and minor key with the same tonic
parallel phrases
two phrases which begin alike
pentatonic
a five-tone scale within an octave
pesante
in a heavy, firm manner
phrase
a musical idea comparable to a line of poetry or a sentence in prose
pianissimo
very soft
pianississimo
very, very soft
piano
soft, quiet
piu
more
piu mosso
a little faster tempo, more motion
poco
a little
polyphonic
refers to music having two or more independent voices (melodies)
polytonality
refers to music with 2 or more simultaneous tonal centers
portato
halfway between legato and staccato
presto
very fast
quartal harmony
harmony built on the interval of a fourth
rallentando
gradually slowing in speed
recapitulation
third and final section of sonata-allegro form; first and second themes usually in the tonic key, optional closing theme
repetition
a restatement of a musical idea
ritardando
gradually slowing down
ritenuto
immediately slower
robusto
boldly, robustly
rondo form
a form in music using a recurring theme alternating with one or more themes (for example ABACA)
rounded binary
AB form with a return of all of part of A at the end of B
scherezando
playfully
scherzo
a playful or humorous piece, a joke
sempre
always
senza
without
sforzando
a strong accent, forcefully
slur
a curved line placed over or under two or more notes meaning to play legato
sonatina
a short sonata
sopra
sustained
sonata allegro form
Frequently used as a formal structure for the first movement of a Classical sonata. The three main sections are Exposition, development, recapitulation
sostenuto
sustained. Smooth and flowing. sometimes slower
spiritoso
spirited
stretto
in a fugue, an imitative technique where the subject and answer overlap. In other compositions, an intensifying or quickening tempo near the end of a piece.
stringendo
quickening, accelerando
subito
suddenly
tenuto
hold the note for its full value, or play with a slight emphasis
ternary form
three-part form ABA
tertian harmony
harmony built on the interval of a third
tranquillo
in a calm, quiet manner
tonal center
a pitch around which the music centers
tre corde
release the soft pedal
una corda
press the soft pedal
vivace
lively, quick
vivo
brisk, lively
